KURE BEACH, NC-- Kure Beach Town Council is currently dealing with many issues. The one that was top of the agenda at Tuesday's town council meeting was the dredging of the Carolina Beach Inlet.

Many New Hanover County residents stepped up to the podium pleading with Kure Beach officials to give $15,000 to the cause.

"There's a whole huge economic off spin from boating and beaches," said Carolina Beach Town Councilman Dan Wilcox. "We are primarily, let's face it, our quality of life, the reason people come here is because of our beaches and our boating."

Although there were reservations because of future dredging and beach re-nourishment, town council decided that the investment was necessary.

"The financial impact on this island if that inlet closed would be catastrophic," said Kure Beach Mayor Dean Lambeth. "This is where $1 would bring $10, and the surveys and economic impact studies show that."

The money comes from a contingency fund made up of dollars from using cell towers. The project is now closer to the $450,000 needed to start dredging.

The decision was made Tuesday by four members of town council rather than the original five, as Barry Nelder resigned last week.

"It would be up to council," said Lambeth. "We can fill it or we can leave it vacant until the next election."

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